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More Fan Edition phones will debut with future Samsung flagships

We might be talking about a Galaxy S30 Fan Edition a year from now.
By
September 24, 2020
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Promotional Photo from Samsung 3
Samsung
TL;DR
  • Samsung may launch more Fan Edition models alongside its future flagship series.
  • This comes after the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition made its debut this week.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition made its long-awaited debut this week, offering consumers some features offered by its more premium siblings at a lower price point. But this device or naming convention reportedly won’t be a one-off.

According to Samsung (via SamMobile), more Fan Edition models can be expected to follow the launch of the company’s flagship lines in the future. This means we’ll likely see the Samsung Galaxy S30 followed by a Galaxy S30 Fan Edition around six months later.

Propping up its offerings with a cheaper device is a tradition Samsung revived with the Galaxy S10 Lite. Samsung seemingly ditched the “Lite” moniker this time around, to earmark the S20 Fan Edition as part of its flagship line. It’s all about marketing.

For Samsung, it’s a move that makes business sense. Initial S20 sales estimates were worryingly below normal for the firm’s flagship line. A cheaper model bearing similarities to its flagships may entice those unwilling to fork out on a premium phone.

The lower price does mean compromises though. The Note 20-like “glasstic” back makes a return on the S20 Fan Edition, albeit with a palatable array of colorways. A flat-screen with a lower overall resolution is used, as well as a camera system that probably won’t challenge its premium siblings. There’s less RAM too for fervent multitaskers, while audiophiles will have to make do without a headphone jack.

If you really need beefier hardware, the Fan Edition just won’t be for you. But if this model is to be an annual event, is there any reason to purchase a more premium S series device if you don’t require these features?

Giving users a cheaper phone while still making the base Galaxy S device an attractive buy will be a difficult balancing act for Samsung. We may see more users waiting for the Galaxy Fan Edition debut before they purchase a flagship phone from the firm. Ironically, this could further hurt Samsung’s premium device sales.

But let us know what you think. Would a regular introduction of a Fan Edition model sway your Samsung flagship buying plans?

Which Samsung flagship model do you see yourself buying?

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